Kendra Morris gets her Amy Winehouse on something heavy and we aren’t mad at it. “Pow,” like many of Winehouse’s songs, tells a story of a manipulative and destructive relationship that she just can’t seem to cut herself loose from. The song is off her debut album, Banshee, and the video features animations James Works who did the famed animation for “Lightworks” by Dilla.

Ali Shaheed Muhammad took a minute to talk his new That’s My iSh jam jumping off this Friday as well as new projects and travels! Lots of awesomeness in store. Get more information about the party after the jump.

Giant Step: We are super excited to hear you at That’s My iSh this Friday! What can we expect to hear? What’s the vibe going to be like at the party?

Ali Shaheed Muhammad: I’m excited too. For too long, Manhattan has been the go to place for nightlife. I’m looking to shake things up with my That’s My iSh party and turn the focus towards Brooklyn. Expect to hear anything between Elton John and Lil John. We touching all genres, but with an emphasis on the good good, not radio good.

GS: What personal projects are you working on these days? When will the world get to hear them?

Ali Shaheed: My main personal projects right now are my second solo LP and my Artist, Ja Poet. I’m not done with the album, but I’m looking to release singles by the end of August. Ja Poet’s mixtape is one song from finished. We’re gonna release his mixtape in a month and then start recording his album.

GS: How about your production work? Who have you been working with and how is that all coming along?

Ali Shaheed:Doc Martin and I produced two songs for John Legend’s upcoming album. One of the songs is the title track. We had a good time putting that together. John, what can I say, he is an amazing singer and a wizard in the studio. I have great respect for his approach. I only wish more artist were as focused. Doc & I also worked on Alice Smith’s album. She’s flawless! I hate/love the way that she makes singing look so effortless (kids don’t try that at home unless you rehearse all day). In additions to Alice, we worked with The Weeknd. He’s a phenomenal singer, his voice and persona is it’s own atmosphere. He has made a huge impact already, and he’s just getting started. I’m looking forward to his next release. I also co-produced a song for a new artist signed to Boardwalk; her name is ZZ Ward. ZZ has a great voice and is an incredible singer/songwriter and performer. Her music is deeply rooted in blues. I had fun working with her and her team. I look forward to seeing her artistry come to life.

Today is the anniversary of the death of super-producer/magical alien creatureJ Dilla. It also happens to be a few days after his birthday. So if you’ve seen Dilla news, mixes, tributes and events all over the place, it’s because now is the time to pay tribute – J Dilla passed away five years ago today. In honor of Dilla, here’s a couple of the best tributes we’ve seen on the webs.

Our friends at The Revivalist interviewed four of Dilla’s peers and other musicians influenced by his work: Bilal (neo soul pioneer, Dilla collaborator), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, (arranger/composer of Suite for Ma Dukes, collaborator with many of those influenced by Dilla) Wajeed (Producer and MC, of Slum Village / Platinum Pied Pipers) and Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Founding Member; Master Teacher). Read their conversation, “Nothing Like This: Meditations on Dilla.” There’s some great insight to classic old recordings, and of course, heavy praise.

“The Apartment” is not only the title track off Dynas‘ latest album, but it is also the foundation of the entire project on Badgramma/BBE Records. The late J Dilla applies his impassioned trademark production as Dynas expels the emotions one must face in order to repair an already broken relationship. If Dynas’ forthright lyrics weren’t enough, now Mupalia Pictures illustrates those canny mental images for this official music video. The Apartment LP is out in stores now, but expect more to come from Dynas as he collaborates on a group project, The Planet, with longtime friend DJ Klassik.

“Drop” by The Pharcyde is arguably one of the greatest hip-hop videos ever made, not to mention all the Dilla-beat love. So when Skillz makes this confession about sleeping on Dilla and his tracks for “Runnin,” “Drop,” and “Something That Means Something” in his own ‘Confessional’ video series, we are truly getting a piece of hip-hop history.